Owner Films Dog Enjoying Beach Day—15 Minutes Later Tragedy Strikes
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A couple enjoying a relaxing countryside vacation with their three dogs had the trip thrown into chaos when tragedy struck.
Margaret Parker, 54, from Ayrshire in Scotland, was on a trip to Cumbria, England, with her partner and their three Newfoundland dogs Pablo, Poppy, and Piper, when things went wrong.
They "had a normal morning," apart from one of their dogs, Pablo, getting sick, which Parker initially blamed on the hot weather, and took all three of the dogs for a dip in the sea to cool down.
While Pablo and his siblings enjoyed the dip, and the wash and blow-dry that came after ("he loves a pamper," Parker said), things suddenly went downhill, as Pablo began retching.
"At first I thought he'd gulped too much sea water, but his retching wouldn't stop," Parker said. "I had a feeling of dread, and just knew his stomach had twisted."
Bloat, where food or gas stretches the animal's stomach causing extreme abdominal pain and cutting off blood flow to the abdomen and stomach, is more common in large breed dogs—like Newfoundlands—but can happen to any breed.
In serious cases, the dog's stomach twists and fills with gas, cutting off blood flow to the lower half of their body; a dog's stomach can rupture in these cases. If left untreated, the dog will die within hours, according to PetMD.
The couple acted fast, Googling nearby veterinarians and found one just 30 minutes away. And after a quick phonecall, where the receptionist urged them to get to the surgery as soon as possible, Pablo was whisked into care.
"Pablo's stomach was extremely bloated, he was panting and excessively drooling," Parker said, and the veterinarians agreed it was likely the dog's stomach had twisted.
Parker had only two terrifying options: put her beloved dog to sleep to take away his pain, or undergo X-rays and scans to check the internal damage and whether there was anything that could be done for him.
Pablo the Newfoundland gets dried off after a bath, minutes before he's rushed to the vet.
Pablo the Newfoundland gets dried off after a bath, minutes before he's rushed to the vet.
TikTok @pablopoppypiper12
His frantic owners opted for the scans, and Pablo underwent immediate surgery, where "they stitched his stomach to his side to attempt to stop this happening again."
Praising the staff as "amazing," Parker was able to take Pablo home that night, "as they felt he would settle better with us" and his siblings.
Their other dogs were aware something was going on, Parker added, saying they have since been "very quiet and calm, they appear to sense he is not well."
While the veterinarians were able to save Pablo's life, Parker says they now live with the concern that he could bloat again.
"His life and diet will have to change," she said. "Right now he's not eating, [and] mobility is a huge issue. As he is a large breed, he is struggling at the moment to transfer from stand to lay, and lay to stand.
"It's taking two of us to assist him onto his four legs, we are doing this at regular intervals to try and ensure he doesn't lose the use of his legs."
Issuing a warning to other pet owners, Parker said the only sign she recognized as potentially being a stomach twist was Pablo's dry retching.
"Seeking medical help as soon as possible was vital, as many dogs die with this condition within one hour of symptoms showing," she said.
Dry-heaving, abdominal swelling, anxiety, and constant pacing with an inability to get comfortable can all be symptoms of bloat in dogs. Panting, drooling, rapid heart rate and pale gums also point to the condition, and the dog may position its body in a downward-facing pose.
Read more
How much should you save for a pet emergency? Experts explain
How much should you save for a pet emergency? Experts explain
Showing just how quickly things can escalate, Parker shared a video to her TikTok account @pablopoppypiper12 on June 22, showing Pablo enjoying a blow-dry after his dip in the sea.
He appears fine, relaxing as Parker's partner dries him off, lifting his head so the man can reach the fur underneath—but as Parker wrote over the video: "15 minutes later, tragedy happened."
Her video was viewed more than 750,000 times, as one worried commenter admitted "I had no idea this was a thing and I've had dogs all my life."
"Sending healing and the fact he's done well thus far is good. Well done for spotting it," another wrote, as one devastated owner shared their story: "I lost a St Bernard to stomach twist. She passed away in the car on the way to the vet. Heartbreaking."
"I lost my dog to twisted stomach 5 weeks ago. Sending your pup a speedy recovery," one wrote.
But there is hope, as one shared: "I had my lab's stomach tacked because he kept bloating. He survived and did very well. Wishing you the best," and another added: "That happened to our golden retriever, he made a full recovery."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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